Japanese Banks

I typically like carrying around cash, too, and only using the card for big purchases, or trusted shops.

I guess most eastern countries still doesn't trust credit card payment.

Wow you would think that japan being one of the most high tech countries would be using cards. But i tend to carry around $100+ on me all the time since i dont really like withdrawing money from a atm because of the charging fee's.

i only carry cash when i go on a shopping spree!!

I hardly ever carry cash on me. I think I would be more inclined to carry more cash if I had a different wallet.
My current wallet isn't very convenient for carrying cash, it's one of those folding "magic" wallets that works like those old Jacob's Ladder toys.
I haven't found a suitable replacement.. I'm looking for an anime themed wallet, and most shops I've looked at online only carry older anime and I'm looking for something like Toradora! or Kannagi... or even K-on! (I have a new obsession after Toradora! =])

im more of a cash-in-hand person

Does anyone remember the days when banks were rarely open? Like 'just' on weekends? WAAY before e-banking and stuff?
Back then, having no money (in hand) meant that you just couldn't do anything anymore - sit around, watch the grass grow, etc - Those were the times

"wad do you usually carry around?"

err...
knife..check!
ski mask...check!
how to rob a bank with only a knife for dummies...check!

Day to day I'll carry around $10 for a meal or something, but if I'm going out with friends I'll usually carry around $40 or so. I tend to use my debit card when buying items just to make it easier.

I use my debit card for everything, but i carry around $25-$50 on me most of the time. I don't like carrying a lot of cash or taking a lot out at the atm machine because a lot of people here get jumped and bashed for there money at atm machines, it's pretty sad but it has happened quit a lot in the past 2-3 years.

I would rather pay using card for things that cost more than $30(In SGD)

I hardly ever carry cash on me unless I know I'll be doing something that requires me to pay cash, like paying for downtown parking or eating out with friends.

yea the cash on delivery thing would get so abused in other countries. it only works well in Japan where people are honest enough....

its just so much easier to use large notes in Japan too. most vending machines take 1000notes, and Buses have drivers who always have change for 10k notes.

and of course ticket machines for trains all take 10k yen notes. kombini take 10k notes too

so the flow of cash makes things easier and never a problem when you find urself having only a 10k. i used to withdraw 30k yen at a time, something i'll never do here in sydney....

I like carrying cash more than cards... I get to feel the weight of the cash which reminds me that the cash is actually there. So that I don't spend that much. It only helps in some cases though XD

Shops in the UK are almost always credit card-friendly so I tend to pay for anything that costs more than what's in my wallet by card. Maestro usually, since my credit card is usually saved for big purchases because of the higher interest. The exception to this is in a pub/bar/restaurant because paying for drinks or my share of a meal bill is less hassle with cash than faffing around with chip and PIN.

It's odd that Japan is still more cash- than card-orientated given its 'futuristic' image but I'll bear that in mind when I visit. Looks like I'll be relying on travellers' cheques/cash and taking my credit card along in case of emergencies.

I only bring lots o cash with me when I know I'm going to use it. Other than that, I always bring about S$20 out only......
I still don't like the idea of using cards ^^;

Whoa... never thought that Japan lagged that much behind in term of non-cash payment...

a bit of the same in Indonesia tho... although it's more because people unaware of CC and it's not easy to get.. Here at Singapore, I'm enjoying paying with NETS and Debit Card... no more hassle of carrying load of cash...^^

I don't really enjoy carrying much cash to be honest... just enough for emergency need.. when i can pay with other method, I do so...

I'm a cash person too coz I don't have a credit card yet...

Here is the US, I dont need to carry any cash what-so-ever. I use my debit card at every place I go. I dont remember that last time I had cash on me.

I thought if I carried less cash with me I'd spend less... But having a debit/credit card on me is just as bad, in fact it's even HARDER to keep track of your spending unless you have immediate access to your bank records.
Money certainly is an evil, evil thing- it just burns a hole in my pocket.

Less than 10 USD.
Sounds very little, but after exchanging currency, its quite some money ToT

I don't need that much money with me anyway - only when buying figures. I only need money to buy grub in school canteen.

I have around $5 in my wallet but usually I have none. I always use debit/credit card for my payments. It is strange that so many people in Japan use cash although Japan has way more advanced electronic payment technologies than other countries (Sony FeilCa smartcards and Osaifu-Keitai)

I on;y carry around about £10 with me if I ever carry paper money. That's somewhere in between $10-$20. I mainly pay everything by card. If I don't forget my pin number which I do a lot.

yeah I think I'm with pretty much with everyone else, I usually keep less than $20 on me unless I'm on vacation then I'll carry more. But at most I usually carry a few bills for vending machines. Everything else is by card.

I couldn't withdraw money while I was travelling to Japan, so I had to do a miracle with VISA to get some money ... that's so sad that a high tech country use such old style financial payment.

I always carry cash around $2, that would be good enough for me in 3 days...

10 USD per week is enough for me !!

Same thing happens here Credit cards are not a popular way of payment even if many stores accept usually only tourists use them
i remember we had adds on TV to incite people to use their credit cards to pay and that its safe

Carrying less than 10 USD if i'm not going to gigs or events. Would like to have a CC but atm i can't.

I'm always amazed how much Japan (and the US) is so being wrt to banks and money. I always use my debit card to pay, do my banking online, and hardly carry around cash anymore. I find that doing things electronically I can keep track of my expenses so much better than 'analogue' ^^

I hardly ever carry cash on me, usually just 10-20Euro to cover a small expense or lunch purchase. I pay nearly everything by debit/credit card, bank transfer or paypal.

After I was mugged a few years ago, I basically stopped carrying cash all together. I still have like a twenty now and then, but its not unusual not to have any cash in my wallet. I figure the criminals can get my cards, and I can cancel them. The cash, thats untraceable.

Rarely carry around more than £10 as the majority of the time I use my card cant see were the paranoia comes from when using cards been using mine to buy things online for many years and never once had problems.

Besides I feel safer not carrying around cash.

I don't have a credit card so cash it is. (^^)/

i carry cash and a bit of small change most of the time, i do have a card but i rarely even use it coz im a lazy sod you cant be bothered entering a pin all the time. so cash will do for me anyday.

I was always surprised the grocery store section of the Fuji Grand where I used to shop was cash only, but the above floors selling clothing and housewares took cards.

I understand on the credit card bank processing fee part discourage many merchants using credit card facility for their retail payment.

I usually carry around USD100 cash most of the time & a few credit cards.

I carry cash with me as well, USD20 or less so that to control how much I spend. Big items will be paid by card thought.

I usually carry very little cash with me. With the recent economic problems I've been storing wads of it in a safety deposit box, and keeping several hundread on my person at all times, just in case..

Carrying around all of the cash, and pocket full of change is the single most annoying part of visiting Japan. It's really nice when you do reach an establishment that takes credit cards, however those are few and far between, and I think I even got frowned at a couple times when I did use a credit card. In america we can get away with $5 mcdonalds purchases with our credit cards, and people think nothing of it these days.

I'm not a big credit card fan either, I'd prefer it be built into my cell phone or something so I can give biometric signatures.

I very much prefer cash to be honest, as I had problems with cards when younger. I hardly use my card nowadays. Sometimes there'd only be a few dollars in my wallet, but other times there might be a couple hundreds.

I don't like using my credit card that much. Its only purpose for me is for very large purchases but after hearing what some of your friend's carry, it doesn't seem so much anymore... I usually only carry enough change for a cup of coffee. I don't spend much to begin with...

When I'm in my homeland I'll probably only carry 10-20$, When in Japan it's a totally different story!

I uses my Debit Card only for online preordering of hobby stuffs (HLJ)...

Cash is the term here in my country, but most shops nowadays accept cards (duh!), tho not preferred...

Wow, that would suck. I never carry any cash on me. Only my check card. I honestly can't even remember the last time I payed for something with cash. ^_^;

I'm always a cash user when it comes to shopping. Only use credit card for online purchases. I've never had to withdraw money from the bank and have never used a CC whilst shopping.
I usually carry about $50AUD in there all the time.. CC is for emergencies if I run out, but so far has never happened.

I usually have 20-50USD in pocket at all time...
it's not that much money in HK... only around $400 HKD, for anyone that has been to HK would know that isn't a lot... A typical evening meal would cost $100 per person or a McDonDon meal would cost around $30-35 HKD

Beside cash I have my very important Octopus card which is directly linked to my bank account.
What is Octopus card you say? It's kinda like the "Suica" in japan.
It's an E payment system using near field technology. So you could make payment without opening your wallet. Just come in contact with the machine and you are good to go!
I have my directly linked to my bank to refill it, so I never have to go find a place to refill.
It's so popular now, you could use it for a lot of things.
Basically all the mass transportation could be used. (bus, trains, ferries, trams, etc...)
Most of the fast food chain. Most of the convenient store. Most of the larger super market and some general stores.

Got the same problems with credit cards over here, people just don't trust it that much, also at some shops cashiers look at you like they want to kill you because you dare to pay with a credit card, which is a "lot more work" for them.
I don't carry much more than 10-20$ with me, just to be safe (I don't trust my aikido skills that much yet^^). I heard that in Japan it is safe to count even a lot of money in front of other people (on a subway for example), if true that's nice. Around here it's not adviced to show of a lot of money in front of strangers, thieves nowadays are more than common unfortunately.

Only time I really need cash is when I go get a hair cut (barber has no new tech whats so ever) Debt is available everywhere (accept vending machines)

Even the Universities here have their own system and many of the local businesses accept the student preloaded cards. And considering I live in a University City (Waterloo/WLU + a college) and the population doubles when school is in, that is big business.

Suddenly how Japan isn't so much affected by the recession makes sense now.

I'm still a teen so no card for me. Just carrying 10 to 20 USD on average but If I want to make a big purchase I will need to bring 100 USD with me then.

Thanks for letting me know that Japanese does not use card much compare to other countries.

About 30 bucks no more usually, don't keep cash at home either. The credit card is for common purchases and online purchases as well. Check book pays most bills, still use the US Mail for stamps to send those in.

Here in Deep South Texas if you have a wallet in your back pocket, made of leather or acrylic woven type, it would still be full of the sweat rolling off your body and soaking all your clothes from end of April all the way to November and the money can at times look like it was in a swimming pool. So, good not to carry paper money and change is too heavy rattling in the front pockets.

Maybe it's just the people I hang around with but in general I rarely see anyone use credit cards unless they shop for a lot of items or eat in really fancy restaurants. AFAIK cash is still the general mode of payment in my country

i go out at least with 1million rupiah in my wallet(10k yen or so...)
a credit card,ATM card,and a second wallet sometimes(holds all my discount card )
my parents don't trust online shopping,cuz they're the one thats paying the bills not me,so i never shop online or do anything weird with my credit card

When I was in Japan, I'd usually carry 30,000-40,000 yen, and that habit carried over when I got back. Now I usually carry around $150-$200, but I try to keep it in big bills so I don't/can't spend them all that readily.

I almost never have any cash on my person, I always just use either my credit card or debit card.

In the US, it's not much of a problem to not have cash. The only time not having cash is a problem for me is when I want something out of a vending machine, very few of which take plastic.

Here you need to earn 1500 euro's (around 2000 dollars) a month or more to be able to get a creditcard from a bank. I think that's so people don't have a high risk of getting in debt with their bank or creditcard company.
No creditcard for me though, I use my debitcard everywhere. They won't be able to rob me this way, I don't carry cash with me!

I dont carry cash unless I have to so in a given year you will find cash on my person maybe once at best because I don't like the idea of carrying cash because it makes it so much more easier to spend it on impulse purchases and things you don't need. When I was younger I would spend like this on a consistent basis and it took its toll on me financially so I have been carrying a visa check card for over 12 years and have gotten my spending in control a year after going this route.

It's pretty rare to find a merchant even where I live at that wont take a card but the ones that wont are generally the ones who are run by people that cant afford the processing fee's or they are old folks who dont trust them and cant figure out how to use them.

Cash is King! They konw it very well! wwww
But credit card is simple and they can make more business (especially online).

I noticed that when I was there as well, I had a hard time using my credit card even if it was in Ginza. funny though, Japan is the only place I feel safe carrying $2,000 worth of yen around with me while walking out in the street and in the subways. ^^; thank goodness I didn't meet one of those otaku muggers. ^^;

I usually carry around 40 dollars, tops. Rule for me is, if what I want is under 20 dollars, pay with cash. If not, or if unsure of the total, I'd pay with my card. I am afraid of using my card at gas stations, though. I go inside to pay, because I've already had a card canceled because my information got nabbed paying at the pump.

And for COD, in the states it was very popular in the 90s, until companies saw the trend that... people just weren't paying. So they pretty much cut the service off. I have no problem using my card online, but only on major sites like Amazon or Buy.com. For sites I don't trust as much, I request to pay through paypal so they never directly get my information. :P

Here in the US I use my debit card for almost everything. It seems simple and you don't have to worry about getting robbed or having that homeless guy outside who just saw you put change into your pocket start begging for you to give it to them.

In Japan, I pay for almost all goods with cash since THAT is the simpler method there. Other issues that weren't mentioned yet (I don't think, anyway)-- many times foreign credit cards are not recognised in the shops' computer systems. I've had the experience of a credit card working at HMV in Sendai Loft but the same card NOT working at HMV near Shibuya station (I tend to go on music shopping sprees that exceed the cash I have in my pocket)! It's Weird sometimes!

This foreign card problem is not limited to shops, either! Many ATMs will also not recognise foreign cards. **REMEMBER**-- the safest, most reliable place for foreign ATM cards is the Post Office!! (EXCELLENT banking system, BTW)

Also-- in banks you will notice that MANY people still use the statement account type of transactions where the teller or ATM reads and updates a bank book! Yeah-- no card at all!

In Japan I typically use my credit cards only for *major* purchases at larger stores / department stores (you will never have trouble using cards in Akihabara), at expensive restaurants, and at hotels/ryokan.

i carry around 0-50 in cash but i also have my debt and credit card on me

well i usually buy stuff online from outside my country so i tend to use PayPal. but if they have a cash on delivery and don't have PayPal i go with cash.
the money i have on me is limited to what i am going to do that day, so its usually around 10-20 Euros plus my debit card.

we're still in a cash oriented period...

I usually have $100-$200 on me, but I still use my debit card all the time.

I suddenly notice: when I'm moving to japan I will have to create a bank account in japan
I imagine that may be a hassle =D

One thing that is becoming more and more common in Tokyo is paying for things with Suica/Pasmo card.
I use it everyday for coffee at Starbucks. Most of the convienience stores take them. Station vending machines take thmem.
I've paid for a taxi ride (not available in every taxi) and paid for meals at many restaurants near the stations.

You can put up to 20,000 Yen on at a time. It's usually very quick and easy, you get a receipt with the balance. They Can be charged up at any railway station. ( and I'm sure there are more places)

It's easier than cash, no need to carry large amounts of change, and you can just wave it over the card reader. No need to even take it out of your wallet.

I think it will become even more common once the two or three competing and non compatible systems disappear.

Usually I just carry 10$-20$ But when comes for shopping I use my credit card ^^

I carry around £10-£20 max, no need to carry more since everywhere accepts credit/debit cards.

Except for tip money, I pretty much use my Debit Card most of time.

I actually used to carry around no money, but then I went all the way to Japan (spent 10 weeks in Kanazawa as part of an exchange program) and finally found a good wallet at a mall there. It's actually deep enough that the money fits all the way in, instead of exactly the right size so that the top of the bills get completely destroyed in my pocket. And it has a change pocket that closes, so I'm not always loosing change in my pocket.

usually have about 10-20 pounds 'floater' to use.
i usually have another 10-20 quid stached away within my wallet for times that i keep forgetting to get cash.

other than that, i use my credit card practically everytime i can since it reduces the trips to the cash machine....

I withdraw 50 bucks and that usually lasts me 1 and a half months...
Dunno how long 50 bucks can last when I start school though...

yes, we have Nachnahme (cash on delivery), it's a well-established payment method like prepayment and purchase on account although slightly more expensive

I prefer cash in de täsch ^^;; electronic cash isn't exactly a medium of exchange and seems a little too abstract..well, it can be convenient at times ^^;

Oh.. Danny is using the same bank as I do where this is the first bank account that I have opened upon my first arrive in Japan. They have ridiculous charges like over hours and fees for international bank-in cash into the account.

But anyway I found out that Japanese people often use cash rather than credit card because one of my teacher told me that cash is easy to pay with and cards have alot of charges and interest to folk out with tons of debt at the end of month which they don't feel easy about it plus Japan is safe to carry lot sum of money into their wallet. ^^;;

I usually carry only 10000 Yen into my wallet.

I only carry cash...since i always forget my card...

I usually have $100 USD which I slowly use for food, etc every day and then I withdraw some more when I'm almost out. I don't use a credit card much because it doesn't completely belong to me. Just use it to pay for textbooks for school since my parents take care of the payments ^^"

That's a huge amount of cash to carry around in your pocket all the time.

I can kinda understand the atmosphere you're describing, because there are a lot of places in the Philippines where it's cash only. I go there sometimes to visit my wife's family, and will probably be moving there in a few months.

Right now I'm living in Singapore, which is so hot on credit cards that you can even pay for your cab usage with a real credit card machine. The only places I've found in Singapore where you typically can't use a card is at the hawkers areas and a few street vendors.

As far as carrying around cash... I typically don't have more than about 200 or 300 Singapore Dollars (13,334 - 20,004 Y) in my pocket. It's not that I need to...I just like to carry my weekly "free" cash in my wallet to keep it separate from my bill money. I wouldn't do that in the Philippines though. There, I carry as little as possible. Mugging/robbing is common.

I don't generally carry more than $20 in cash if that unless I'm going somewhere that debit cards will be more troublesome to use than paper (like a con or something). Otherwise I use my debit card for everything because it's far more convenient and lets me keep track of how much money I have more easily.

Plus, we have a rather nasty homeless problem where I'm at and by carrying around a debit card it lets me blow off attempts at hitting me up for change that much more easy. If I didn't make it a point of avoiding the downtown area I'd still be getting hit up for change 5-6 times a week; now I can just tell them I don't carry cash without having to be a complete ass about it. (Some of the bums around here can be unbelievably pushy).

I am a debit card only man, and thank god in the US almost every damn shop accepts them. The convenience level is through the roof. Not only do I only have to carry around a piece of plastic, but change jangling around from paying for something isn't a problem anymore either. Also, in terms of fiscal organization, I can track all the stuff I have spent money on.

in the us it's very rare to go to a place that doesn't use card, so i use my debit card everywhere i go. plus if i have cash in my pocket i'm more likely to spend it than if i don't

for me normally i carry around $200 - $600 usd lol ^^ that is normal for me but just recently i just got credit money card lol you just put money on the card and carry it around too ^^ ill put like $4000 on it lol ^^ sens if anything happens to it it'll get replaced and i don't loose any money if someone takes it ^^

I tend to carry around the 10-20 dollar range as I'm still a student and all I'm really going to guy is probably lunch, maybe dinner, and perhaps a t-shirt. If I am planning any "big" buys, then I would carry enough money accordingly.

Hmm I guess the future of people swiping cards to pay for everything is a long far way off. I don't try to carry too much cash on me, but some stores have the same reason as Japan because of the processing fees. I do carry around $40 these days, not including coins... because sometimes with just 5 coins, I have $10 XD

The fact that many Japanese citizens carry large sums of cash is not surprising considering how expensive things are in japan. As for credit fees, they are to high every were you go. "Cash is King" is an old saying because it is true.

I usually only carry $10-$20 at a time. I will use debit sometimes, but never credit.

I carry $200+ on me and leave my CC at home except for gas. My parents/grandparents are the same way as well. Must be a Chinese thing? Or maybe my family is just bizarre.

I don't carry cash and haven't done so since I was in high school. I carry just a mini check card in my key ring and my ID when I carry the full size card when I go out about town.

I tend to keep $10~$50 USD in my pocket, just in case I feel famished.

Man that is kinda weird I mean for japan......

Other than lunch money, the only time I carry cash in any quantity is when I'm going to a con or something and I expect the dealers to take cash for the most part.

somehow i think this poll is suspicious...... hmmm.... probably trying to figure out who is worth mugging....lol jk

I don't carry around much cash, as I can withdraw with no fee anywhere.

Some shops give a discount if you pay with cash, from the credit card fee upwards.
Personally I pay with ATM system, as it's free for me.

Old persons tend to pay with cash as they get their "retirement pay" cash in hands at local post offices, and aren't really keen on modernizing as it's just recently that payments have been pushed on more techy ways.

These days Gov. is speaking to allow payments by cell phone, just a few years a go we started having chip cards to pass on radio recievers in public transports. Or pay highway toll...

Japan is in someways so much ahead it makes me want go over there!

I rarely use cash, because I hate getting back change. I really do. XD I don't have to use cash very often here anyway; most places have a debit card reader, and those that don't can frequently run a debit as credit. The only place I can think of that didn't was that old, crappy movie theater I worked at, which was appropriately nicknamed the Ghettoplex.

When I used to work in Japan, I carried aroud 30,000 yen.

Now, back in Canada, I carry about $20 in cash.

I hardly carry cash on me and stick with using my credit card since I get rewards points for every dollar spent. I don't spend that much and almost always pay the balance in full every month so it's no worries. If I do carry cash then it's not more than $20, which doesn't exactly last long enough for me often.

Recently I've been trying to keep cash on me at all times. Some places I visit have a minimum credit spending that's usually equal to or more than $10 thus making me have to spend more than what I initially intended just to buy what I wanted. Plus when my balance is mailed to me every month I don't have so many charges listed, and not as many receipts to keep.

Ahh... I remember this well. The first time I went to Japan I totally underestimated how much money to bring, and was relying on my credit cards to pay. It wasn't a big deal in Ginza or any well known store, but when you're planning to explore the fun nooks and crannys of Tokyo I really should've initially brought more.

So my friend that was in Japan took me some banks to ask which ones were compatible with the debit card system I use. She was fluent in Japanese, so it wasn't too much of a hassle. Once I found out which banks I could use, withdrawing money wasn't a problem. After awhile, I decided just to withdraw large amounts each time and forget about using credit. I went to the bank quite often ^^;

Here, everyone takes CC, so I seldom carry cash around unless its warranted for some reason. At the end of the month I just pay it all off; I have zero CC debt. It's just convenient for me.

Try not to carry any cash with me, don't need it anymore in the UK.

My wallet currently has $73.25, can't say about my debit card since I haven't used it in a while =/ but the average amount of cash I usually carry is around $20. Aside from figure getting, I don't carry much with me since the figures are the only expensive things I buy here, and I don't buy them often either =/

Day to day, I'll carry about $20 on me for lunch and/or snacks. If I'm going to a show after work (which more often than not are at bars), I'll have around $40, just because it makes paying the tab and leaving a tip easier.

I would bring money if im going some where normally £10. if im going to buy some thing i would look at the place which has it selling at a lower price the take out the money and then buy it.

Wow, I did not know that about Japan. Learn something every day!

My parents don't like using the credit cards online, but they'll use it in stores...so I can't get any goods online...but personally I don't like using credit cards because I don't like holding off what's due and putting on credit what I can't afford...

I don't tend to get lots of money in my wallet, like $10 0r more. I used my credit card for everything though, mostly online shopping (of course after doing some dig in about trusted websites). Will be hard to get used to use lots of cash in Japan after i move XD

I carry hardly any around with me unless I'm at a convention...people are more likely to mug me around here if they see me paying with credit, haha X__X;

In Australia you see COD a little, but generally items are paid for beforehand. Japan seem like a very trusting society. I think that's great. Also, here in Australia you get charge a $2 fee if you don't withdraw money from your own bank :-( So people let the retailers take the processing fee ^^; Personally I like to pay with cold hard cash... $$$$ :-)

You can pay with debitcard pretty much anywhere here in holland, but then there's the skimming issue >_<

Still there are many places which prefer cash: like restaurants n such. I always carry some cash with me, for lunch n small stuff like magazines or candy. Rarely use CC, only use it for onlineshopping. (hmm that's not so rarely)

I rather not carry too much in case I get robbed, but I want to carry something in case I get robbed if that makes any sense.

Driver is married, he has no cash!

Best bumper sticker I've ever seen on a delivery truck. ^^ ^^

Major debit card user here.

Carry around $20 in USA, about 100,000 yen in Japan plus credit cards >.>

Debit card for just about everything, keep $20 on me usually just in case I end up wanting delivery or something.

I don't carry much on me

50-100$ USD is normal for me.
I use cards only at established reputable shops.
Had credit card info stolen at restaurant before so
I am much more careful when I pay at restaurants with
cards. (Fortunately card company fixed everything.)
Normally, this is not an issue, but if I get the feeling
that your restaurant is kind of dinky looking, I will
use cash. :(

I prefer using solid cash for outdoor purchases and my debit for online. Don't think we have COD here... Really wished we did though. ><

I hardly ever carry around cash here in the states. In Japan though I carried about 20,000 yen on average.

I don't carry too much cash around and actually prefer to use my credit card. Reason being is that I've gotten my wallet stolen before and in the even that happens it's not good to have a lot of cash. Credit cards, you just call up your company and say that it was stolen and they'll disable your old card and send you a new one. I don't see why people wouldn't trust credit cards though... especially now that we're in the information age, you can just go online and see what's been charged to your card. I've only had a couple of incidents where I was overcharged and those were easily fixed (save your receipts). I had a friend who had a bunch of charges racked up that he didn't do and his card company fixed that for him too with out much hassle.

You know I just realized, if I tried to take a picture in my local bank I'd probably be taken away by security and questioned

I try to charge everything to credit card here in US to get reward $$$. But I keep 20-30 in wallet just in case.

BTW, I wonder if the reason many small businesses don't take credit card is to avoid paper trail and tax liability. Maybe I got a little clue from seeing the movie "A Taxing Woman" (Marusa-no-Onna) recently for the first time.

I don't carry cash period. I hate it. Debit card only.

Living in Japan you soon come to appreciate the beauty of the cash. The money here is clean not like in the US where you need to wash your hands after handling it. They circulate the money a lot quicker here.

If you attend a wedding or give some cash as a gift you can go the bank and actually request new notes. If you are in a store paying for something you would never throw the money down on the counter it is placed neatly. You also try to keep it uncreased in your wallet if possible.

Japanese Notes are not just seen as a cash way of paying for something, they actually have their own customs and rituals attached, just like the ways of handling a business card. If I only had $100 (YEN 10,000) in my wallet I would feel the need to go the bank and restock.

Credit is ok, but there is nothing like paying cash. I had a friend who sold their apartment a while ago and received $500,000 cash for it. That's about YEN 50,000,000. When I say cash, I mean cash!!! The settlement was on a weekend. The purchasers banker came with a briefcase of cash and my friends banker counted it out in the apartment with a small machine. The bankers were about to leave when my friend said, "Hey what about the cash?" Their banker replied, "Oh, you can bring it to the bank on Monday"

in singapore, Except for hawker centers and coffee shops and the other older provision shops... the other shops accept Credit Cards and NETS (some singaporean debit service) so yeah... i usually only carry $10 SGD everywhere i go.

There are tons of ATMs too so u'll be able to get ur money outta the bank easily.

I don't carry any money on me, I use debit/credit card mostly for purchases.

Cash? What's that?! XD I use debit/credit/Paypal for everything. I almost never carry cash on me anymore unless I'm at anime conventions and travelling abroad. It actually feels odd and makes me feel very self-conscious when I carry a wad of cash on me nowadays. =^_^=

I tend to carry cash with me, but usually not in large ammounts because I'm usually only using the cash on hand for food and little figurines that cost about $2-$3 CDN.
If I want to make a big purchase I'll use my debit card.

I use my debit card a lot, but haven't had the need to get a credit card. I can make a virtual one on my bank's homepage and use that to buy from online.

I carry about 300$ US. Makes it easier for big purchases.

I only carry around enough for two or three meals out - or, alternatively, a couple of tickets or a somewhat cheap item. In Toronto, for me that means about $30-$40 CDN.

I was rudely awakened to the Japanese distrust of credit cards just a couple days ago - really wanted to get something from a Japanese site, and actually went ahead and tried it anyway. Was really proud of myself for setting up a proxy service and reading through all the Japanese instructions.

Unfortunately, that shop was AmiAmi and after ordering and reading through carefully I realized the only methods of payment were COD (not allowed at my proxy) or a direct bank transfer. The bank transfer was not only a huge hassle to set up, but after extensive research for the bank address and info. I realized there was a huge charge from the bank on my end. Ended up giving up altogether. x_x

If credit card payment had been allowed...I would've been done instantly and saved myself a lot of time and trouble.

I carry about 20 USD, enough for buying lunch or dinner around campus for a week until I get to another ATM at my usual break between classes. Pay for nearly everything else with cards. Insurance against being mugged, I suppose.

Credit cards aren't common in Germany either. If one go shopping most pay by cash or when ordering something direct debits is usually the first choice. Well, I have a credit card only because it's the easiest way to pay when purchase something in a shop which's overseas.

i usually dont carry cash with me. i play with plastic all the time, unless i go eat out with friends that only take cash. then i have to go withdraw.. -_-"

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I don't have a credit card... so yeah. I don't carry that much cash with me either, unless I'm planning on buying something. Don't want to get robbed at school. ^^''

I use a debit card so my purchases come straight out of my checking account

when I was in Tokyo I carry around 10,000 yen a day
In Malaysia, I sometimes don't even bring any cash...as I have my Touch 'n' Go card (something like PASMO & SUICA) to go around
especially on days where I have classes ...but normally I will carry around RM 10 with me...just to buy food...
If I'm going out shopping I don't really like carrying too much cash...so I opted for credit card

holy crap i still have $900 can that i forgot to put in the bank :o

To be honest I rarely carry any cash and when I do its usually only a few pounds to cover things I can't pay for by card - such as lunch at work if I'm too lazy to make it at home.

There are a couple of big reasons for me though.
1 - My day-to-day life never takes me past a cashpoint or a bank. If I wanted to carry cash I'd have to go pretty far out of my way to get it.
2 - My brain kind of equates cash to be spare money that I can afford to spend. If I carried cash everywhere I went I'd spend it, withdraw more, then spend that. Using debit cards makes me think about what I'm buying a little more.

i don't tend to carry cash around - it's too much of a temptation to go spend it on stuff I don't need, and can't afford anyway...

i'm lucky if i've got a tenner floating around in my purse.

In Canada people tend to use their bank cards, we have a system called Interac that just withdraws the money from your bank account to make a purchase. Credit cards are also used fairly often, so I notice especially young people tend to not use cash all that much

i wish COD (Cash on Delivery) is here in Canada. Then maybe, my parents would let me order the stuff i want from the internet ^0^

right now i'm carrying the exact equivalent of 296 yen. But that's because after a long weekend i just ran out of money. I usually carry around 3,700 to 7,000 which in mexico is more than enough. Plus you have to consider how unsafe it is here so if you get robbed -and chancer are- you will not lose a lot.

Bah!
I will carry more than 35.000.000 Ptas. in notes
it doesn't matter how much will they charge for deposits of every amount

Singapore's pretty much like the US in this respect. Cash is mostly stored in banks and costly items are usually paid with cards (credit, debit, NETS...).

Hahaha.. we are so lucky here where so many shops willing to accept Credit Card so that you spend more money - unnecessarily sometimes...

I always carry around SGD 10.00 (USD 6.60) during normal working days - just enough to pay lunch... hahahaha

If I ever need the extra money... just use the ATM Machine available on many banks outlets and in some shopping mall as well...

10,000 yen on average - daily basis... wow... not bad Danny Choo...

I ran out of cash while shopping at Akiba two years ago and one of the second hand goods shops expressed their regret that they could not accept my credit card because they had exceeded their limit on credit card sales for the day. And I thought that limits were only on card users! (Well, I could have understood them wrongly.)

I usually carry about USD 20 in my wallet. Use cash to pay for lunch etc.

I do have a pre-paid credit card but that's mainly for ordering stuff online. Other than that, I carry my ATM card along with me too in case I need to withdraw cash.

I think it's usually an Asian thing. It is a final thing. It is much simpler to carry around cash, and not have to worry about taxes or hidden fees. In NYC's Chinatown, the shop keeper even tell you up front that if you try to give them the credit card the thing you purchase is usually about $3-$5 more than having to pay in cash.

never ever bring travelers cheques to japan...ever 0_0

I tend to carry $20-$40 on me and use my credit card or bank card most of the time. I fear losing a wallet full of cash rather than getting robbed. Some businesses here have a sign saying they wont accept electronic payment for purchases under $10, which really annoys me. I usually point out that it is against the terms and conditions in their contracts with Visa and Mastercard to set a minimum, and if they still won't take cars then I'll shop somewhere else.